What's new
By:
Advanced search…
My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Lodge Officer Duties - Secretary

Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
MBC said:
Brethren,

I've been designated as Secretary of my Craft Lodge and Scribe E of my Royal Arch Chapter.


W.Bro. Vy.Fra. (E.Comp.) PM, V°, 32°
Click to expand...
Double Sentence ! You musta done something bad :p

But seriously, well done on supporting your Bodies.
 
nickekcitydude

nickekcitydude

Registered User
Three Masons die and go to heaven. They approach God sitting on his thrown and the first Mason walks up to the throne and God askes him what he did with is life and the Mason responds “I was Sr. Decan of my lodge". God says “an excellent thing to do, come sit on the left hand of god”. The second Mason walks up to the throne and God asked him what he did with is life and the Mason responds “I was Master of my lodge”. And God says “an excellent and noble thing to do, come sit on the right hand of god”. The third Masom walks up to the throne and God asked him what he did with is life and the Mason responds “I was Secretary of my lodge and I think you are sitting in my chair”!
 
Last edited:
Pscyclepath

Pscyclepath

Premium Member
Will be starting off my 5th year as Secretary of Magnolia #60... this is one one of those jobs that once you have "touched the tar baby", it seems to cling to you ;-)
Time to start drafting out the dues notices for the coming year :-(
 
Glen Cook

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Pscyclepath said:
Will be starting off my 5th year as Secretary of Magnolia #60... this is one one of those jobs that once you have "touched the tar baby", it seems to cling to you ;-)
Time to start drafting out the dues notices for the coming year :-(
Click to expand...
Perhaps look for another aphorism?
 
Last edited:
W

Winter

Premium Member
Pscyclepath said:
Will be starting off my 5th year as Secretary of Magnolia #60... this is one one of those jobs that once you have "touched the tar baby", it seems to cling to you ;-)
Time to start drafting out the dues notices for the coming year :-(
Click to expand...
While I fondly remember the Brer Rabbit stories I do not believe they are widely read these days. Most people are likely to understand that term in reference to the racist idiom it has since become. Brother Glen is right, you may want to find another aphorism.

That being said, having spent a year as secretary after my time in the East, I have nothing but respect for the Brothers who take that position on.
 
I

Ill John J. Tumolo III

Registered User
Blake Bowden said:
His Jewel is the Crossed Quill Pens. The Secretary is the Lodge's Recorder.

The Secretary's Lodge Officer Duties require a high degree of lodge experience, Masonic knowledge, diplomacy and, above all, detailed paperwork skills. The Lodge Secretary is the backbone of any Masonic Lodge and he holds a position of great responsibility. He sits to the left of the Master. His duties require him to handle all correspondence to the members, minutes of Lodge meetings, petitions of new candidates, continuous lodge member count, and many other administrative duties. He compiles an ongoing list of each new candidate and which degrees that candidate has undertaken. From his member list, he sends out the annual dues notices and receives dues payments. He communicates with other Lodges and the Grand Lodge, types letters, retrieves the mail as well as handles many other details.

The Secretary's Lodge Officer duties are many, not the least of which is that he must be well versed in Grand Lodge By-Laws for his jurisdiction and his Lodge By-Laws. He keeps the list of Lodge members and helps the Master organize his meetings. A very experienced member usually resides in this chair...many times he is a Past Master of the Lodge. While it is not a prerequisite, due to the number of hours that this position requires, most (not all) Lodge Secretaries are retired and therefore able to devote the many hours required which are necessary to this position. The Secretary's position is similar to a corporate C.O.O., (Chief Operation Officer).
Click to expand...
I must say, it's the hardest job I've ever done and after 20 years I'm still enjoying it-except for the collecting dues part. Our Grand Lodge is going through the implementation of what is now my third computer program designed to make life easier-it's pretty much designed to make us a bit crazy. Yes, at times it can be tough, especially dealing with the death of a member. The running joke has always been that a good Secretary lets the Worshipful Master THINK he's running the Lodge. The reality is, we try our best to make our sitting WM look good in front of his Lodge and do everything in our power to help things run smoothly until St. John's day next.............
 
Bloke

Bloke

Premium Member
I'm my mother lodge's secretary. Like others. collecting dues is probably one part of the job which I would put at the top of my dislikes about it, but I have a collection process.
1 issue dues (usually July or August). It is not a note on the summons, but a separate invoice sent separately to anything else.
2 Send a reminder out. Have the invoice with the reminder.
3 Forget about collecting dues over Christmas.
4 Make calls and follow up.
5 Send receipts when dues are paid.
6 keep following up, encourage men to enter into payment arrangements.
7 discuss a resignation if necessary OR benevolence if needed.
8 Make sure the only time they hear from me is NOT when I am collecting dues.
9 Take a welfare approach,
10 Normalize the fact that most people pay their dues.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top